Balancer



March 8, 1938.- c, MURPHY 2,110,809

BALANCER Filed June 2, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 H15 ATTORNEYS March a,1938.

Filed June 2, 193;;

E. C. MURPHY BALANCER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Zaivard 6.

INVENTOR Hl5 ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 8, 1938 UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

My invention relates to power propelled vehicles, and has among itsobjects and advantages the provision of an improved balancer constructedand arranged to prevent tilting of the vehicle about its longitudinalaxis as when the vehicle is passing around curves or moving overlaterally inclined roadbeds.

In the accompamring drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an ordinary chassis embodying theinvention;

Fig. 2 is a view taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; a.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of my pendulum operated valve;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5--5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 isan elevational view of one of the cylinders associated with thesupporting springs for the vehicle;

Fig. '7 is a view taken along the line 1-1 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view of the operating circuit; and

Fig. 9 is a detail view of a different form of a shackle cylinder.

In the embodiment selected to illustrate my invention, I make use of anautomobile chassis I0 comprising the usual frame members I2 providedwith conventional rear springs I4 and front springs I6 associated withthe supporting wheel and axle structure I8. I illustrate a cross beam.as interconnecting the. two frame members I2. Referring to Fig. 1, therear ends of the rear springs I4 are pivotally connected with the framemembers I2 at 22, while the front ends of the front springs I6 aresimilarly connected with the frame members at 24. The opposite ends ofthe front and rear springs are operatively connected with the framemembers I2 through the medium of shackle cylinders 26.

Referring to Figs. 6 and 7, each of the shackle cylinders 26 comprises acup 28 provided with lugs 30 on its bottom for supporting a bolt 32arranged to support the loop 34 of the spring leaf 36 of one of thesprings I4 or I6.

Means for swingably connecting the shackle cylinder 26 with the frame I2comprises a rod 38 having a loop 40 pivotally mounted upon a shaft 42comprising an integral part of the plate 44 riveted to the frame at 46.The rod 38 is slidably positioned within an opening 48 in the cover 50closing the open end of the cup and secured thereto by bolts 52. In Fig.7, I illustrate the inner end of the rod 38 as being provided with apiston 54 fastened to the rod by means of a nut 56. Thus, the shacklecylinders 26 are mounted for pivotal movement about the shafts 42thereby performing the function of the usual spring shackles.

I design the shackle cylinders 26 to perform an additional function inthat a fluid pressure circuit is associated therewith for shifting thepistons 54 as a function incident to the tilting of the vehicle aboutits longitudinal axis when passing around curves, or over laterallyinclined roadbeds, to maintain the vehicle in a level condition. To thisend, I provide a suitable pump 58 having a geared connection with a gear60 of the conventional transmission cluster gears mounted upon the usualcountershaft 62 through the medium of a bevel gear 84 connected with thegear 60. The gear 64 is arranged in mesh with a bevel gear 66 connectedwith a shaft 68 upon which a pump gear I0 is associated in operativerelation with a second gear 12. Of course, other pumps than the gearpump illustrated may be employed.

The pump casing 14 is provided with an inlet conduit I6 and an outletconduit 18. I connect the conduit 16 with a fluid supply tank 80. andthe conduit 18 with a control valve 82 mounted upon the cross beam 20. Aconduit 84 connects the control valve 82 with the supply tank 80.

Referring to Figs. 4 and 5, the control valve b municating with theconduit I8, while the opposite end of the blade is aligned with theoutlet port 94 communicating with the conduit 84. In Fig. 5, Iillustrate the valve blade as being provided with a shaft 96 extendingthrough a bearing and packing gland 98. Upon the outer end of the shaft96 I mount a pendulum I00 comprising a depending reach I02 having aweight I04 connected therewith. The pendulum I00 and the blade valve 90is constructed and arranged in such a manner that the valve bladeassumes the po sition illustrated in Fig. 4 when the vehicle is in ahorizontal position from side to side. Thus, the operating fluid in theconduit circuit will not enter the control valve 82 when the valve bladeis in the position of Fig. 4.

Operating connections between the control valve 82 and the shacklecylinders 26 comprise conduits I06 and I08 connected with the housing 86and communicating with the compartment 88 through the medium of ports H0in the housing.

Referring to Fig. 1, the conduits I06 and I 08 are associated withconduits I I2 and H4, respectively, leading to the shackle cylinders 26associated with the rear springs I4. Similarly, the conduits I06 and I08are connected with conduits H6 and II8, respectively, for connectionwith the shackle cylinders 26 associated with the front springs I6.Referring to Fig. 7, it will be noted that the conduits II2 to H8communicate with the space between the bottom of the cup 28 and thepiston 54 of their respective shackle cylinders 26. Thus, when fluidunder pressure is forced into the cylinders, the pistons will .risetending to lift the chassis.

In operation, the pump 58 will tend to force liquid under pressurethrough the control valve 82. I connect the conduits I6 and the conduitI8 with a by-pass valve I20 (see Fig. 2). The spring pressed ball I22will move away from its seat to permit the passage of fluid through thevalve I20 when a predetermined pressure within the circuit has beenattained, depending upon the amount of tension in the spring I24. Thetension may be varied through the medium of an adjustment member I26.Thus, the valve I20 operates to maintain a uniform pressure ofpredetermined value within the circuit.

When the vehicle is caused to rotate bodily about the longitudinal axisof the vehicle, as when turning corners or moving over roadbeds havingany appreciable lateral inclination, the pendulum I 00 will rotate thevalve blade 90 sufficiently far to permit fluid to be forced into thecompartment 88. Such fluid will be forced into the two shackle cylindersupon the low side of the vehicle, thereby moving the pistons and raisingthe low side of the vehicle until it is in a horizontal position.

Referring to Fig. 4, the lower end of the valve blade 90 is slightlynarrower than the port 94, whereby two slight bleeds I28 are provided.In this way, the necessary amount of fluid is returned to the pump sideof the circuit when the part 92 is closed to permit the vehicle toassume its normal condition.

My invention does not in any way interfere with the easy ridingqualities of the vehicle in that the shackle cylinders 26 permit freeaction of the supporting springs.

The ends of the conduits II2 to H8 connected with the shackle cylinders26 comprise flexible tubing. In Fig. 1, I illustrate a pressure tank I30 connected with the conduit I8 in close proximity to the control valve82. This tank is positioned at a lower altitude than the supply tank 80.The latter is provided with a small vent opening I32 in its top topermit free movement of the fluid on the low pressure side of thecontrol valve 82. The supply of fluid within the circuit is such thatthe level in the supply tank will not raise to a point where there isany overflow. However, the tank I 30 is only partly filled with fluid asindicated by the fluid level I34. The space above the liquid levelcomprises a compressed air compartment, which pressure is equal to thecircuit pressure built up by the pump 58.

The purpose of the tank I30 is to provide a supply of fluid in closerelation to the control valve 82, whereby an auxiliary supply of fluidis associated with the control valve in such a manner that that part ofthe circuit connecting the control valve with the shackle cylinders 26will always be filled. As soon as the control valve 82 is opened, someof the fluid in the tank I 30 will immediately flow into the conduitsassociated with the low side of the vehicle to lift the pistonsassociated with the shackle cylinders on that side of the vehicle. 01'course, the fluid supply from the pump 58 may under ordinary conditionssupply all or practically all of the fluid necessary to attain quick andefficient leveling of the vehicle, but the tank I30 is associated withthe fluid circuit to assure quick and efficient action under allconditions of service. In Fig. 8, I have illustrated a diagram of thecircuit for the sake of clearness.

In Fig. 9, I have illustrated a different arrangement of the shacklecylinder I36, in which the cylinder is pivotally connected at I38 withthe frame member I40 in a horizontal position. The bottom of thecylinder is provided with a lug I42 operatively connected with thevehicle spring I44 through the medium of a bell crank lever I46pivotally mounted at I48 upon a bracket I50 fastened to the frame memberI40. The circuit fluid is introduced into the cylinder through itsbottom as indicated by the conduit I52 in the same way as in connectionwith the shackle cylinders 26. In this modification, the opposite end ofthe vehicle spring is, of course, provided with the usual shackle tocompensate for variations in the length of the spring.

The tank I30 is, of course, of air-tight construction and is providedwith an air inlet valve I54 of conventional design to permit pressure tobe applied to the tank.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully explain myinvention that others may, by applying current knowledge, readily adaptthe same for use under various conditions of service.

I claim:

1. The combination with a vehicle body having supporting wheels andspring means operatively connecting the body with the supporting wheels,of a closed liquid circuit, means for applying pressure to the liquidcircuit, means comprising a part of the liquid circuit operativelyconnected with the body of the vehicle and the springs to shift theposition of the vehicle with respect to its supporting wheels, and meansactuated by gravity when the vehicle rotates about its longitudinal axisfor delivering liquid from said closed circuit to certain of said secondnamed means, to elevate the low side of the vehicle.

2. The combination with a vehicle body having supporting wheels andconventional spring means operatively connecting the body with thesupporting wheels, of a closed liquid circuit, means for applyingpressure to the liquid circuit, piston means comprising a part of theliquid circuit operatively connected with the body of the vehicle andthe springs to shift the position of the vehicle with respect to itssupporting wheels, and means actuated by the tilting of the vehicleabout its longitudinal axis for delivering liquid under pressure tocertain of said pistons, to elevate the low side of the vehicle.

3. The combination with a vehicle body having supporting wheels andconventional spring means operatively connecting the body with thesupporting wheels, of a closed liquid circuit, means for applyingpressure to the liquid circuit, cylinder and piston means comprising apart of the liquid circuit operatively connected with the body of thevehicle and the springs to shift the position of the vehicle withrespect to its supporting wheels, and means actuated by the tilting ofthe vehicle for delivering liquid under pressure to certain of saidcylinder and piston means, to elevate the low side of the vehicle.

4. The combination with a vehicle frame having wheels, of conventionalsupporting springs between the wheels and the frame, a cylinder andpiston connection between one end of each spring and the frame, a closedcircuit for liquid under pressure, said circuit being operativelyconnected with said cylinder and piston connections, and a gravityoperated valve for controlling the movement of liquid under pressure tosaid cylinder and piston connections, said valve including a bleed forthe liquid in the normal position of the valve.

EDWARD C. MURPHY.

